WALLS STRUCTURE FOR CABINS AND THE LIKE

Abstract: A panel for making walls and enclosures such as cabins and the like in shipbuilding comprises a flat laminated member (10) having two sheets (11, 12) of a reinforced fire-resistant resin with a honeycomb spacer (13) of an aluminum alloy therebetween, and a heat and sound insulating member (16) applied to one of said sheets (11, 12) on the remote side from the spacer (13).

Description: "Walls structure for cabins and the like" Technical Field This invention relates to a board structure for erecting walls and such enclosures as cabins and the like in the shipbuilding industry. The term "shipbuilding" encompasses herein, additionally to ship structures proper, any marine structures of a comparable nature, such as offshore rigs for example. Background Art The walls of cabins and other partitions are currently erected from pre-assembled modular boards. The boards comprise a flat member of sheet metal having bent longitudinal edges in order, on the one side, to stiffen the aggregate of the panels assembled into a wall, and on the other side, provide a joint to adjacent boards. A mat of compressed rock wool is applied adhesively to the out-of-view surface of the flat member for heat and sound insulation purposes. A major drawback of such a structure is that the board width is limited, usually to within 600 mm. Thus, when walls are to be erected which measure a few meters in length, a number of boards must be joined together. This adds significantly to the wall cost, and harms the finish of the exposed side of the wall. In fact, the run of the joint line between adjacent boards, however close these may have been set, i,s an undesired mark with quality cabins. Furthermore, walls erected from conventional construction boards are comparatively heavy. The weight factor is of great concern with ships, especially cruise ships on which cabins are to be found in great numbers even far above the main deck, making for a top-heavy and roll-prone vessel. The underlying problem of this invention is to provide boards which are so designed and constructed as to overcome the above drawbacks of prior boards. Disclosure of Invention This problem is solved by this invention providing a board structure with the characterizing features of Claim 1 Brief Description of Drawings The invention will be further described with reference to a preferred embodiment thereof, shown by way of illustration and not of limitation in the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a part-sectional perspective view of a portion of a board embodying this invention; Figures 2 and 3 are longitudinal and cross sectional views, respectively, of a board having the construction shown in Figure 1; Figure 4 is a schematic athwartship section view through a deck of a ship showing two contiguous cabin walls according to the invention in their erected state; Figure 5 is a perspective view of a cabin constructed from the boards shown in the preceding Figures, but without a ceiling; Figure 6 is a longitudinal section view of a detail of the cabin in Figure 5; Figure 7 is an exploded perspective view showing, partly in section, the end fitting arrangement for two adjoining boards; Figure 8 is a longitudinal section view of two boards end fitted to each other; Figures 9 and 10 are elevation views of respective details of the fitting arrangement in Figures 7 and 8; Figure 11 is a part-sectional perspective view of a further detail of a cabin erected in accordance with the invention. Best Mode of carrying Out the Invention Generally shown at 1 in Figures 4 and 5 is a cabin erected on a steel deck 2 of a ship or offshore rig. The cabin 1 comprises six walls 3a-f, all made up of fabricated boards 4 according to the invention. The boards 4 are all alike in construction, being of the type shown in Figure l, with a multi-layered flat member 10 which includes two sheets 11, 12 of a fire-resistant synthetic resin reinforced with glass fiber wherebetween a honeycomb spacer 13 is sandwiched. The sheets 11 and 12 are preferably of the kind manufactured by Messrs. Euroco positi of Arcola (La Spezia) , and are about 1 millimeter thick, the spacer 13 being preferably made of an aluminum alloy and being about 10 millimeters thick. The flat member 10 has first and second outward faces 14, 15 lying opposite relative to the spacer 13. The first face 14 forms the exposed surface of a wall made up with boards 4, and is finished with the application of a film or a two-component polyurethane paint. It is also contemplated that the first face 14 may be otherwise covered, e.g. with gel coat, or veneer, or fabric coverings, etc.. The second face 15 is preferably adhesively applied a heat and sound insulating member 16, such as a mat of rock wool or Si-Al fiber. The remote surface of said member 16 from the face 15 is preferably covered with a third sheet 17 of reinforced resin, of the same type as the sheets 11 and 12 but smaller thickness, e.g. 0.5 mm thick. It is also contemplated that the board may be fabricated without the member 16 and the third sheet 17, especially where a wall to be composed therewith is to exhibit no specified heat and/or sound insulation properties. Along the longitudinally opposite edges of the board 4, i.e. where the boards would be fitted in contiguous positions, respective C-shaped moldings 18 are arranged with facing convex sides. These moldings have two parallel flanges 18a,b held apart by a web 18c. The moldings 18 are glued on the sheet 12 with the flange 18a close against the second surface 15 and the mat 16 between the flanges 18a,b. The web 18c is formed with apertures 19 which extend along the longitudinal direction of the molding 18 and have preferably greater breadth areas 20a,b at the longitudinally opposite ends and a smaller middle area 21. The breadth of the areas 20a,b is at least equal to the diameter of a ball head 23 of a joint member generally shown at 22, and the breadth of the middle area 21 is smaller than said diameter and equal approximately to the diameter of a cylindrical tang 24 whereby said head 23 is connected to a threaded shank 26 of the member 22. In this way, the head 23 can be inserted into its corresponding aperture 19 through the areas 20a,b and retained at the middle area 21. The joint member 22 is secured to the adjacent board 4 in a hole through the web 18c, in the instance of the boards being end-fitted together, or in a perpendicular hole to the flat member through the flanges 18a,b, in the instance of a corner joint, as respectively shown by the sketches of Figures 8 and 6. A sound-insulative seal 25 is fitted between the web 18c of the molding that carries the member 22 and the surface on which said web 18c abuts when fitting the boards together. Notice that with the board structure of this invention, it would also be possible to provide continuous corner joints where the junction corner is in full view (the instance of the joint between the walls 3b and 3c in Figure 5-Figure 6); in this case, the construction of a single board to supplement the two walls in question is contemplated. To improve the strength and rigidity of the boards 4, the insertion of one or more stiffening members consisting of moldings 27 having the same shape as the moldings 18 parallel therewith is contemplated. The moldings 27 are set at regular spacings, e.g. of 1000 mm, according to the wall strength specifications. Provided along the two opposite edges of the board 4 in the transverse direction, are respective C-shaped section bars 28, 29, both made of steel treated against corrosion. The section bar 28 is used for securing the board 4 to the ship deck, e.g. by spot welding as shown schematically at 31; the section bar 29 complements the upper free edge of the board and carries a further L-shaped molding 29a that provides support for conventional ceiling panelling boards 29b. Notice that the section bar 29 is preferably formed with a plurality of slots 32 serving as passageways for mounting, inside the board 4, pipes 33 of appropriate diameter through which power distribution wires to the taps and electric appliance switches would be later led. Among the major advantages of the inventive board structure is that significant savings in labor can be had in manufacturing and assembling cabin walls. In addition, the resultant structure is quite strong, which allows boards of considerable breadth to be provided, even to the full size of a wall to be formed thereby. Thus, seam lines between adjacent boards are avoided, and the appearance of the cabin surface finish improved. Finally, the boards are unaffected by corrosion and are fire-resistant, which makes them specially suitable for use in structures designed to operate in a marine environment.

Claims: CLAIMS 1. A board structure for erecting walls and such enclosures as cabins and the like in the shipbuilding industry, comprising a flat member (10) having a first face (14) intended to form the in-view surface of a wall and an opposite second face (15), a means of board heat and sound insulation associated with the flat member (10) on the corresponding side thereof to the second face (15), characterized in that said flat member (10) comprises two sheets (11,12) respectively carrying said first and said second face (14,15) and a spacer (13) of honeycomb construction being interposed between said sheets and bonded thereto. 2. A structure according to Claim 1, wherein at least one of said sheets (11,12) is a sheet of reinforced resin. 3. A structure according to Claim 2, wherein both said sheets (11,12) are made of reinforced resin, preferably a fire-resistant resin laminate reinforced with glass fiber. 4. A structure according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein said honeycomb construction is made of an aluminum alloy. 5. A structure according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein said sheets (11,12) are about 1 mm thick. 6. A structure according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein said spacer (13) thickness is equal to or greater than about 10 mm. 7. A structure according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein said insulating means comprises a mat (16) of si-Al fiber. 8. A structure according to Claim 7, wherein said mat (16) is applied to said second face (15). 9. A structure according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein said board (4) carries an end molding (18) along at least two opposite sides. 10. A structure according to Claim 9, wherein said end molding (18) is set against the second face (15) of said flat member (10) . 11. A structure according to Claim 10, wherein the mat (16) is applied a third sheet (17) of fire-resistant reinforced resin. 12. A structure according to Claim 11, wherein the end molding (18) is C-shaped, said mat (16) with said third sheet (17) being received between the flanges (18a,b) of said end molding (18). 13. A structure according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein said boards (4) carry, on at least two opposite sides thereof, respective joint means and counter-means adapted for mutual engagement to connect adjacent boards together. 14. A structure according to Claim 13, wherein said joint means and counter-means are associated with the end moldings (18). 15. A structure according to Claim 14, wherein said joint means comprises at least one ball head (23) joint member (22) bonded with a tang (24) thereof to a board, and the joint counter-means comprises at least one corresponding aperture (19) in the end molding (18) of the adjoining board (4), said aperture having at least a first portion (20a,b) in which said ball head (23) is releasably engageable, and at least a second portion (21) in which said ball head (23) is retained. 16. A structure according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein stiffening members (27) are associated as by gluing with the second face (15). 17. A structure according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein both transversely opposite sides of said board (4) are applied a molding (28,29) which embraces said board (4) between said first (11) and third (17) sheet.

Inventors: FAROLFI FRANCO, FAROLFI, FRANCO
Applicants: FAROLFI FRANCO, GLI STUDI DI TECNICA NAVALE S, CENTRO PER GLI STUDI DI TECNICA NAVALE S.P.A., FAROLFI, FRANCO
Application year: 1994
Main classification: E04C2
IPC codes: B32B3, B63B3, B63B29, E04C2